Nepal earthquake: USAID donates additional $9m in aid

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced an additional $9 million in assistance dedicated to earthquake response and recovery efforts. The announcement brings the total amount of U.S. humanitarian assistance for the disaster to nearly $47 million, including: $32.5 million in funding from USAID and $14.3 million from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The new funding will provide additional emergency shelter materials, safe drinking water, hygiene kits, and improved sanitation to the most critical districts and also support programs to address psychosocial needs and the protection of earthquake survivors, including women and children.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs will provide $1.7 million in equipment – funded by and procured by the U.S. Department of Justice – that will assist the law enforcement and justice sectors in Nepal to recover from the earthquakes. This equipment will include approximately 75 weather-resistant tents to serve as centers of operation for police and justice personnel to support Nepalese citizens, including those in earthquake-affected areas. The equipment will ensure continuity of police and legal operations to protect vulnerable populations as Nepal recovers and rebuilds.